Introduction In this session I will focus on Bayesian inference using the integrated nested Laplace approximation (INLA) method. As described in Rue et al. (2009), INLA can be used to estimate the posterior marginal distribution of Bayesian hierarchical models. This method is implemented in the INLA package available for the R programming language. Given that the types of models that INLA can fit are quite wide, we will focus on spatial models for the analysis of lattice data.